Clock



M.'H. KERN CLOCK Filed Nov. 29, 1921 I l/Vl/EIVTOR 44 ATTORNEY.

P e g: 14,1923

mAxIMILraN H. KERN, or 'nrnenwoon, NEW YORK.

zotocxl a lication filedNovmbcr 29, 1921.; Serial mfsiasjai.

useful Improvements in Clocks, of which the face and in'whicli the hands are actuated following at specification, [reference beinghad therein to the accompanyingdrawings,

which. form apart thereof.

My invention relates to clocks, and more partlcularly to a clock having a'segmental through a'sector of a 'circle'only andhave a return oscillatory movement at certain pre-.

determined intervals, I a i .111 clocks it has been heretofore, a univer- .sal practice to have both'hands describe a complete circle. clockwise, under the control of the clockworks and to have the figures "upon the dial, arranged in a circle.

Aclock embodyingmy invention differs from the type of clocks above referred to in that whilethe clockworks operates in all.

respects like thosejheretofore used," the hands aredriven by an intermediate mechanism' which is operative to impart move ment in the usual ratio to both hands through the sector only of acircle, the hands being capable of, a return'movement .indep'endently of said-intermediate mechanism and of the clockworks,'the-dial figures being so arranged that notwithstanding this peculiar movement of'the'hands, a user may;

read the time as with an ordinary clock. 1T0 secure the des red results, it s essential that the intermediate mechamsmbe so constructed as to impart positive inove-' nient to the. hands which are idly mounted upon their pindlesyin one direction, the operative connection between the hands and said intermediate mechanism being, disengaged therefrom when. the hand has described its full range of movement under the control of, said mechanism.'soas to perlationtothe dial figures.

fembodyingtherein a facehaving hour and minute indicia thereon arranged in the secadjustablesol a to secure a proper of th s dlsengagement so as to secure ac curacy in the position of the hands with re- The invention consists primarily in a clock tor of a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuatean hourhand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks willimpart a part'cycle to said hands respectively, fan'hour halide-minute hand, each adapted to'have clockwise and contraclockwise movement, means whereby said hour hand and said minute hand are respectively operatively connected with a speed reducing'gearing to positively actuate'said handscloekwise, and means whereby said last means is disengaged from said speed reducing gearing when a hand has completed its full" clockwise movement, to permit a return, contra-clockwise movement of the hand; and in such other novel features of constructionfan'd combination of parts as. are-hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularl pointed out in the claims hereto appended 1 Reitcrring to the drawings, Figrlds a front view of acloc-k embody- .ing my'invention; i

Fig. 2 isa front view upon an enlarged scale, of the portion ofthe mechanism for actuating thehands; 7 A t V Fig. 3 is a side view thereof partly in sectiongand Fig. 4 is a perspective View of theactuating arm for one of the hands and its appurtenances, I Like letters refer to like-parts throughout the severalviews. 1

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, a indicates the dial of the clockwhich as noted is .in segmental form,

with the numeral 12 indicated at the central top hereof with the numerals 1 to 6 in sequence from the right thereof and, thenuthereof, there being the usual hour and min V I V ute lIlCl'lCla. ad]acent and between said nuis accomplished-V Y Inerals. s V

Havingmovement across said face is a minute hand 6 andan hour hand 0, each of which; as will more fullyappear hereinafter, is moved under the control of the clockworks, clockwise of said dial face, and has a return movement entirely independently thereof, so that these hands each have an oscillatory movement while the clock is running, the hand having; a return movement once each hour on the half hour, and the hour hand having a return movement once each twelve hours. 7

In the drawings the entire clockworks is not slmwn, since any form of cloclzworks may be used, the invention residing more particularly in the manner of operativeiy connecting the hands with the said clockworks mechanism so that each hand is idly mounted in relation to its spindle but receives positive clockwise movement. therewith, and a timely release l rom its actuating mecl'ianism. to permit a return movement of the hand contra-clockwise independently oi said cloclnvorks.

In ordinary clockworks, the minute and the hour hand gear trains are so arranged as to cause the minute hand spindle to make a complete rotation in one-twelfth of that re,- quired for the hour hand spindle to make a complete rotation, but when using; a see;- Inental dial it is apparent that while the speed ratio of the minute and the hour hands must be preserved, the hands themselves can describe but a portion of a circle within the time ordinarily required for than to describe a full circle. It will be apparent, therefore, that the clockworlzs embodied in my invention must difier li'rom those ordinarily en'iployed, in the respect that the gear train construction must be such. as to impart a full cycle of operations tothe minute and the hour hands respectively with only a partial cycle ol the co-operal'ing member oi? said clockworks, the extent of such modilication being controlled by the length in a rc oi the segmental dial. It the are of this dial be 180, the cycle of each hand must be com-- pleted during! one-hall. of the cycle oi the said member; ii the dial be but oi 90, during one-quarter ol the cycle of said member; or i'li'tho dial he 120 in arc, as shown in the drawings, the cycle of the hands must be con'iplctei'l during one-third of the cycle oi said member.

Hence, as compared with the ordinary clockworks gear trains those oi. my invention must embody a speed reduciin; gearing so that within a given interval each hand will receive only a fractional movement as compared with the movement of the ordinary clock hands during the same interval.

In the accompanying drawings, I employ a main clockworks train (not shown) which differs in no respects from the ordinary .clockworks, the spindle (Z representing the customary minute hand spindle, and the spindle representing the customary hour hand spindle, of the. ordinary clockworks.

The speed reducing gearing for actuating the hands which are supported from the plate f, consists of two gear trains (j, g and [/h and and 7L2, the gears g" and h being adapted to apply power to the hands I) and 0, while the goals 9 and it are carried by the spindles (Z and 6 respectively, the intermediate gcars and 7& being merely employed tor the purpose'oit causing the gears 5] and 72 and {j and It to turn inthe same direction. In the form of the in vention shown the ratio of the gears /L and ,I)t' is as three to one, since, as stated,the dial a is arranged in a segmentof 120 1111 are, thus requiring the hands to describe one-third of a revolution with each :lull revolution oil the spindles (Z and c.

The gears g and 71 are idly mounted upon a stud carried by the frame 7'', while the gears g and 72. are idly mounted upon a hollow shaft 7; carried by a bridge upon said plate f, the gear 9 being upon one side of said bridge and the gear it upon the other side thereof.

The minute hand 6' is provided with a hub Z) by means of which it is idly mounted upon the shaft 2' adjacent the gear it, said hub being provided with an arm y adjacent sa d gear provided with an oscillatory dog ;/'"having a shoulder adapted to successively engage studs 70, Z and arranged apart upon the gear 72., and a stop shoulder j" adapted to engage the underside ol said arm. Said, dog 7" is acted upon by a spring 57' to normally disengage said step shoulder from said arm j while permitting a free oscillation of said dog to disengage it from a stud 7c, 7: or 70 when said hand 6 has conlpleted its fully cycle, or has reached the numeral 6 to the right oil Fig. '1. I

Also carried by the lrame is a post in having screw-thrcadcd thereinto a rod whaving a trip a thereon anang ed in the path of movement oi a PI'OjGCtlOH oi the dog 3]. the adjustability of the rod n being for the purpose of permitting said trip a to be so set as to secure accuracy in the timing of the release of the arm f and in the contra-clockwise movement of its hand 5.

As shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the draw ings, the projection is so spaced away from the wheel h as to not engage the stud la, 70 or 70 thus permitting a free movement of said arm about the shaft 71 so as to ensure :t'ree cont'a-clockwise movement of the hand Z) immediately upon the disengagement oi the dog from one of the studs In, 1: or 7.: and its engagement with the succeeding stud in a direction counter to the rotation of the gear h. w 7

The trip a is positioned at the left of the vertical center of the gear 7? so that the overbalancingweight of the arm will always be so positioned as to ensure a return move ment of the hand I; contra-cl0ckwise, the arm j being provided. with an eccentric "weight -9' to 'ensure th'e 1111 return move- "in dotted hnes inFig-Q, two of s .being shown iniull l nes in Fig;

nien't ofthe arm and its hand." The hand "0 has a counterweight '1) to ensuree'ase in the return movement thereof. It. is apparent,

- however, that instead of relying upon gr-aw nay, and; the weight ofithe arin'w j to" impart, the desired contra-clockwise movement to the" hand I), "well: known equivalent I of said weight may befuse'd. Th hour hand; 015 secured to and rotates andp carriedby said gejar'an d inditated aid; studs The arm 0 is provided withfa dog-of similar in construction to thiefdog" having aj shoulderofl stop shoulder 0 and'a pro ect1on 0i, said dog being acted u'ponby a spring lambs-moms inthefpost M nnie same manner asthe rod n, is a rodrg having a trip member thereon adapted to cof operate with the pro ect1ono iupon the dog 0'. The arm 'oand'its appurtenances, has

the same operative effect ar ume ts the gear 9 as the arm 5 and its appurtenances, has in relation to the gear h, with the exception that the v trip; mechanism becomes operative at" intervals of twelve-hours 'in stead of at intervals of one hour. I

The hand 0 is'; provided with acounterweight c and the armo is provided with an 7 overhalancing weight 9 corresponding wlththe weight y', and for the same purpose.

' The operation, of the fhe'rein described vclock is substantially asflfollowsz-e l While cloc1-:" is"running,= hej spindles and ewill be rotated by the main clockworks gear trains in the usual speed ratio of twelve to one, the necessary power, in the O in of the invention shown being supplied'hy i weight controlled by a pendulum escapement mechanism although these details areimm'al terial to the I invention, since any desired source of power may be used sired form of escapement.

a d an To simplify the description otthelopera tion the cycle of the minute hand will first be described, it being understood that the hourhand is simultaneously actuated in [the same manner as, but at one-twelfth the speed of, the minute hand,

At all times, excepting when a return con- 7 tram-clockwise movement of the han'd b is rh throughtheintermediategear 7L butin Q the speed ratio of one to, three;

:the said shoulder j? engages a studas the required, the shoulder j of-thedog' will engage one of thepinsk, k c1270? upon the gear wheel'h, which 'wheel will be turned in the same direction as the shaft 6 and its gear So long as hand Z2 will bepositivelyinoved clockwise through" the medium of the arm? 7'; "this movemenfibeing limited to a sector corre- V spending in degree'with the'scctor of the indicia numbers upon the difa1.;-l Vhether.

this movement be 'continuous or' intermittent will be governed entirely :hy the clockworksynot shown.

AS the ppr achesuieiiina51f its engage the trip inen ber n and when this hand 1s accurately; positioned with "relat on to the lIldQX' assoc ated with said numeral ment of the hand 6 and its'appurtenances from the clockworks mechanism; the overbalanclng welght 'of the arm 7' w1llcause said hand to describe a contra-clockwise movement until theshoulder i engages the succeeding pin it, 'whereupOn clockwise movement will be againvimparted to said hand' The engagement 'ofs'aid shoulder 9' with the succeeding pin, is; willroccur when i said handis in exact alinementwith the in--' dex associated with the numeral to the leftof the dial. I I During the'return' movement of the hand I; and its arm j, the spring y' -wi'll so oscil- 7 late thedog j as to bring the shoulder y' iin' a position whereit must" inevitably engage said pink. 1 The stop shoulder is provided merely to prevent an overthrow oi thedog j", and is merely in the natureoi a precautionary attachinent, since the slow travcrse of the arm will preclude anygreat tendency to- I 'ward an overthrow of: salddog. Sibley however, thatf suflicient' overthrow It is posm ight ojccur' to causea bindingol the dog, but with the "use of thisstofp" shouldersuch is positively prevented; 1 i i 'lt'will befnoted that the projection j i's'so formed as to be out of the path of the pins k, 70 and 7:

, The Weiphty' is used merely as a compeneating device to ensure tithe ld'esi'rcd Iaccuracy in the-overblancing effector the arm j. If it be 'found that the hand, b'does not exactly register with the index associated with the numeral-l6 when the sho ulder' j is released from the pin 7c, is or 70 the'stem clockwise .inovem'ent or the numeralnfi to v the right of the; dial, the projection j 'will' (3-, the shoulder f'will bedisengagodfrom the pin 1c. 1 Instantly withv the 'disengaga" a maybe adjusted toward or from the post. l

m so as tocause an earlier/or later tripping ofthc dog y" according to whether thehand haspassed' the said index, or does not reach samet when its {clockwise movement is ar-V rested and its contra-clockwise movement initiated; r v

Since the pinsk, liq and'k? are 'arranged the samenumber of degrees apart as' to each other, and emcethedistance-equals 1'n degrees'that between the numerals 6 to the right and left of the dial, it isapparent if thereleasing of the shoulder j 'occurswh'en V the hand 6 is in exact register with the index associated with the numeral (3 to the right, that the hand upon the conclusion of its return or eontra-clockwise lmovement will be arrested in exact register withthe index associated with the numeral 6 at the left of the dial.

The operation of the hour hand under the .control of the gear train g, g and g and shaft (Z will be identical with that heretofore described, said hand being moved through the engagement oi the shoulder 0 of the dog 0 with the stud j), 79 or the projection 0 engaging the trip member to disengage the hand from the clockworks and permit its return contra-cloci wise movement in the same manner as heretel'ore described in relation to the minute hand, it being understood that the minute hand Y) has this return movement once every hou while the hour hand 0 has this return movement once everytwelve hours.

The shape o the dial is immaterial, as is the exact arrangement of the numerals or chiu'acters thereon, so long as the hour and minute indicia in the approxin'iate sector of a circle corresponds with the number ot' degrees between succeeding pins 70, 7c and W, or p, 7) andp it being merely necessary that the same numeral be repeated at the right and the left extremities or the indicia upon the dial.

lVhile in the drawings the speed reducing gearings g, g and 9 and. 72 72 and 7L2 are shown as being arranged outside of the main clockworks plates, it is apparent that they may be included between said plates and arranged in any'desired manner to se cure the operative efli'ect herein described.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such. may be varied without departingtrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is i 1. A clock cu'ibodying therein a face having hour and minute indicia thereon arraiwecl in the sector of a circle, clockworks having means therein receiving continuous unidirectional movement and adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand. whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will import a part cycle to said hands respectively, an hour hand, a minute hand, each adaptedto have clockwise movement with and contra-cloclnvise movement inde pendently of said means and. means whereby said hour hand and. said minute hand are re spectively operatively successively connected with said, means having continuous, unidirectional, movement, whereby each hand receives positive clockwise movement, and

when a hand has completed its full cloclc wise movement, a return, contra-clockwise movement of the hand is permitted.

2. A clock embodying therein a lace having hour and minute indicia thereon arranged in the sector of a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings thereinreceiving continuous, unidirectional movement, and adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shalt upon which the last gear of each of said geariugs is idly mounted, an hour hand, a minute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement about said shalt so as to be adapted to have clockwise and contraclockwise movement, means whereby said hands may be successively operatively connected with the last gear of said gearings respectively to have positive clockwise movement therewith or contra-clockwise movement independently thereof, and means whereby said last named means discngaged from said gear when it has completed :its clockwise movement to permit a return contra clockwise movement of the hand,

A clock embodying therein a face having hour and minute indicia thereon arranged in the sector of a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a n'iinute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockwor ks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shaft upon which the last gear of each of said gearings is idly mounted, an hour hand, a n'iinute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement about said shattso as to be adapted to have clockwise and contra clockwise movement, studs on the last gear of each of said gearings respectively circularly arranged about said gears and spaced apart a number of degrees corresponding with the degrees of the sector occupied by the dial indicia, means carried by said hands adapted to be successively engaged with, and disengaged from, said studs, whereby said hands will receive positive clockwise .movement with said gears and be permitted to have contra clockwise movement independently thereof, and means whereby said last named means will be disengaged from a stud when its hand has completed its clockwise movement. to permit such return or contra-clockwise movement; of the hand.

d. A clock embodyingtherein a face having hour, and minute indicia thereon ar ranged in the sector of a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shaft upon which theilast gear ofleachjof said. gearings is.'idly}inoun.ted, an hour hanch'a' -minute hand, said hands being idly mount- }ed, to have movement about said shattso as to be "adapted to have clockwise and comm: clockwise movement, n arm carried by each. of s aidjhands, a dog pivotally mounted upon; each of said arms, mean s carried by the gear j adjacent 'each of said arms, said dogs re-'- '10 "said'ha'nds respectively, aslia'ft upon which .the last gear of'each of said gearings is 'idl-y mounted, an hour hand, a minute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement spectively beingadaptedto be alternately engaged w th, and disengaged irom, said last named means to cause positive clockwise" movement of its hand therewith and permit a returninovementof said hand-in dependentlyoi said'gear, and means where the clockworks will impart 'a part cycle to about said shaftso as to be adapted tohave clockwise and 'contraTi-hmkwise movement, studs on the last gear of each 'ot said gearings respectively circularly arranged. about said gears and spaced apart'a number of degrees corresponding iivith the degrees of the -=se'ctor occupied by'fthe -dial indieia,-'an

arnic'arried-by each of said hands, a dog. Y pivotally mounted upon each of said arms,

means'carried by the gear adjacent each of said f arms, said dog's respectively being adapted to be alternately engaged with, and

hand therewith and'permit a return move mlTIG-IltQf said hand independentlyoi said gear, and means wherebyeachof saiddogs is disengaged from said studs upon its associ ated gear when the hand carrying said dog has eompleted its clockwise movement, to

. permit 'a return contra-clockwisemiovement of the handi A clock embodying therein a face hav- 'ing hour and minute indicia thereon ar- W ranged in the sector of a circle, clockworks having"speed reducing gearings therein I adapted to respectively actuatean hour hand and aQminute hand whereby a full cycle of the cl0ckworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively,.ahollow shaft upon which=thelast gear of each of saidgearings is idly'mounted, an hour hand idly mounted upon said shaft, a shaft idly mounted in."

said hollow shaft, a minute handcarried by may be accurately timed;

said last named shaft, said hour hand and said minute hand being adapted to have clockwise and". contra-clockwise movement,

said gear when it has'completedlits clockwise movement to permit a return contraclockwise movement of the hand. 2 I

' 7. Aclock einbodying therein a face having 7 hour; and minute *indicia' thereon arrangedu n the sector of a circle, 'clockworks I having 'speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour ha'nd (and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the; clockworks will impart a part cycle to 1 said, hands respectively, an hour hand, a

minute hand, 'each'adapted to have clockwise and contra-clockwise" movement, means" whereby" said -hour hand I and said minute hand arerespectively 'operatively connected {with "a speedreducing ge ring to positively. 1

actuate said .h ands 'cloclrw e, means whereby said last? means isydisengaged': from said speed reducmg gearingwhen a hand has completed itsflfull clockwise movement, to

permit a return, contraclockwise movement of the hand, and adjustablemeans cooperatng iviithsaid last named means whereby the disengagement of said hands respectively from said gearing may beaccurately timed.

A clockeinbodying'therein a facehaving hour and minute indicia thereon arranged 111' thesector of a CllClQ, clockworks having speed. reducing gearing therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minutelhandwhereby a full cycle of the clockworks "will impart a part cycle to saidhands respectively, a shaft upon which the last-gear ofieachof said gearings is idly I "mounted, an hour hand, a'minutehanchsaitl disengaged from, said studs SUCCQSSLVQlY-tO (5&11S"pOSltl-VG clockwise movement of its.

hands being idly'mounted to havemovement about-said shaft so as to be adapted to have clockw se and contra-clockwise movement,

an arm carried by each of said hands, a dog pivotally mounted upon each lot said arms,

mcai' s car'ried by th'egearadjacent each. of sa1d,.arms,; said dogs respectively being .adaptedlto' be alternately engaged with, and

disengaged from, said lastzname'd means to cause positive clockwise movement of its hand therewith andspermit a returncmove inent oi sa d" hand independently of said' gear, -meansi whereby each of said dogsiis disengagedfrom saidmeans upon its associated gearwhenthevhan d carrying said I dog'has completed its clockwiseinovement, to permit return contra-clockwise move- .mentofthe hand, and adjustable meansarranged iii'the path of movement of the dog carried. by? each ofsaid arms, wherebythe disengagement of'said dogs from said studs 9. A clock embodying therein a 'tace having hour and minute indicia thereon arranged in the sector ot a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shaft upon which the last gear of each of said gearings is idly mounted, an hour hand, a minute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement about said shaft so as to be adapted to have clockwise and contraclockwise movement, studs on the last gear of each of said gea-rings respectively circularly arranged about said gears and spaced apart a number of degrees corresponding with the degrees oi? the sector occupied by the dial. indicia, an arm carried by each of said liainls, a dog pivotally mounted upon each of said arms, means carried by the gear adjacent each of said arms, said dogs respectively being adapted to be alternately engaged with, and. disengaged from, said studs successively to cause positive clockwise movement of its hand therewith and permit arcturn movement of said hand indepemlently of said gear, means whereby each of said dogs is disengaged from said studs upon its associated gear when the hand carrying said dog has completed its clockwise movement, to permit a return contra-clockwise movement of the hand, and adjustable means arranged in the path of movement of the dog carried by each of said arms, whereby the disengagement of said dogs from said studs may be accurately timed.

10. A clock embodying .therein a face having hour-and minute indicia thereon arranged in the sector oi? a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shaft upon which the last gear of each of said gearings isidly mounted, an hour hand, a minute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement about said sha'l t so as to be adapted to have clockwise and contra-clockwise movement, studs on the last gear of each of said gearings respectively circularly arranged about said gears and spaced apart a number of degrees corresponding with the degrees of the sector occupied by the dial 'indicia, an arm carried by each of said hands, a dog pivotally mounted upon each of said arms, means carried by the gear adjacent each of said arms,

said dogs respectively being adapted to be alternately engaged with, and disengaged from, said studs successively to cause posiof the disengagement of said dog from said studs may be secured.

liar; clock embodying therein a face having hour and minute indicia thereon arranged in the sector of a circle, clockworks having speed reducing gearings therein adapted to respectively actuate an hour hand and a minute hand whereby a full cycle of the clockworks will impart a part cycle to said hands respectively, a shaft upon which the last gear of each of said gearings is idly mounted, an hour hand,

a minute hand, said hands being idly mounted to have movement about said shaft so as to be adapted to have clockwise and contra-clockwise movement, studs on the last gear of each of said gearings respectively circularly arranged about said gears and spaced apart a number of degrees corresponding with the degrees of the sector occupied by the dial lndicia, an arm carried by each of said hands, a dog pivotally mounted'upon each of said arms, means carried by the gear adjacent each of said arms, said dogs respectively being adapted to be alternately engaged with, and disengaged from, said studs successively to cause positive clockwise movement of its hand therewith and permit a return movement of said hand independently of said gear, and

means whereby each of said dogs is disengaged from said studs upon its associated gear when the hand carrying said dog has completed its clockwise movement to permit a return contra-clockwise movement of the hand, the arms carried by said hands respectively, being so weighted eccentrically of the axis of said hands so as to ensure a complete return movement of the hands by gravity.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this lth day of N ovember, 1921. i

MAXIMILIAN H. KERN. 

